Category: Ability Guidebook

There is nothing worse than taking your class to an assembly only to have to leave because one of your kids is having a melt-down. I love the outreach programs the National Park Services provide, including school visits by Woodsy Owl and Smokey the Bear.

If your children are about to meet Woodsy, here is a guide to show them the rules and help them not be scared!

Iceland is country #33!! This is a guide to visit the amazing Hallgrímskirkja in Reykjavik. Ability Guidebooks are step-by-step guides on how to visit cultural destinations around the world. These free supports for people with autism can help deal with the anxiety that comes from transitions and new things!

I am happy to announce the first book for the Democratic Republic of Congo! Zongo Falls are one of the most popular tourist destinations in the DRC. I hope this book helps some people with autism head to the falls for a visit!

This was Christmas in November for me! I am so excited to share that an amazing teacher from Greece, Kiriaki Mellow, has translated “I Am Going To The Parthenon!” into Greek!!!! This Ability Guidebook now becomes a tool so support local teachers and families to help people with autism get out into the community more.

I am so grateful to Kiriaki for her help in this. I know these books can help people with autism, and I am proud and happy every time I make a new one, but they are limited if they are only in English. Kiriaki just opened doors that I cannot open by myself.

If you know any teachers in Greece, please share this out. Not only are they awesome for people with autism, but they can alleviate stress for people who have anxiety about going to unknown places. And, believe me, every elementary school teacher who takes a class to the Parthenon can benefit by using this as a field trip guide!

If you would like to make an Ability Guidebook for your own community–Let’s do it together! Drop me a message on twitter @2014ortoy (I get spammed on here way too much to filter out the real messages!). If you take the pictures, I’ll help with the text and formatting! Until then, here is an Ability Guidebook on how to make an Ability Guidebook!

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A Little Bit About Brett….

Brett Bigham is the 2014 Oregon State Teacher of the Year and the recipient of a 2015 NEA National Award for Excellence in Education. He is the first Oregon Special Education Teacher to be named with these honors.

As a 2015 NEA Global Fellow Brett travelled to Peru to meet with Peruvian teachers, students and dignitaries. He has visited schools in more than 20 countries and is proud to be a voice both here and abroad for people with disabilities. He has created Ability Guidebooks for people with autism or who are near-diverse.

In 2015 Brett was honored with the NEA LGBT National Teacher Role Model Award and he is proud to advocate for LGBT teachers and youth.

In July Brett will be presenting at the NNSTOY conference in Chicago and at the Save Our Schools Rally at the Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall and Conference at Howard University in Washington, D.C.

Check out my curriculum!

I love creating new and adapted curriculum and sharing it with teachers. Almost half the items in my store are free!
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Mr-Bs-Classroom